“Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:22-23).
The idea of “cause and effect” refers to an action, event, or decision that is followed by a related consequence. Here in the book of Romans, one such relationship is exemplified in those who choose to hold down or suppress the truth of God’s existence. That decision produces the effect described for us in Romans 1:21: “For even though they knew God, they did not honor him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (NAS).
Once we begin by suppressing the truth of God’s existence, we proceed from a starting point that is fundamentally flawed. On the other hand, the Biblical book of Proverbs directs us to the right departure point for good decision-making: “… the reverence and fear of God are basic to all wisdom. Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding” ( Proverbs 9:10 TLB). Psalm 111:10 adds, “To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight…” (NET).
If we start with a flawed premise (like rejecting the truth of God’s existence that is revealed in the natural realm), then everything that flows from that premise is likely to be erroneous as well. That is the consequence of a mindset that is predicated on the assumption that God does not exist. It ultimately leads to the reasoning process described for us here in Romans 1:22: “Behind a facade of ‘wisdom’ they became just fools, fools who would exchange the glory of the eternal God for an imitation image…” (Phillips).
These inferences are important because every moral conviction finds its ultimate source in our beliefs concerning God. For instance, a person who believes in the existence of an all-powerful God who has created human beings in His image and holds us accountable for our actions is likely to make different moral choices than a person who doesn’t hold those beliefs. This is why our views on such matters are critically important, for the things we believe influence the choices we make.
If God does not occupy the highest position of worth in our lives, we are bound to replace Him with an inferior substitute. That decision also leads to another type of cause and effect relationship that Paul the Apostle will go on to describe in the following verse.
We can illustrate this function of the celestial heavens with the image of a train that is traveling down a flat set of railroad tracks. The last car of our hypothetical train is moving because it is coupled to the car ahead of it. The same is true of every other railroad car in that sequence; the motion of each individual car is explained by the action of the car that precedes it.
For instance, the visible world is like a mirror that reflects the existence and power of its Creator. The natural world offers a means of verifying God’s reality and a way to understand some of His attributes. Anyone with the gift of sight may enter the theater of nature and observe the glory of God through creation. That theater encompasses the world we inhabit along with the observable universe.
We can always learn something about a person from the presence of his or her work. At a minimum, we can know that someone lived to create that work, even if he or she remains unseen. For instance, we might associate a high-quality piece of handiwork with the efforts of a skilled craftsman. In a similar manner, sculptures imply sculptors, paintings imply painters, and buildings imply builders.
This reality has led to many creative forms of suppression among those who are uncomfortable with the reality of God’s existence. For instance, the term “Mother Nature” is a common way of referring to creation in a manner that eliminates the idea of a Creator. We might also refer to “luck,” “fate,” “chance,” or “karma” in an effort to camouflage or dismiss any consideration of God and His sovereignty over the affairs of life.
The word “suppress” refers to the act of holding something down. A common analogy for understanding this word is that of a sailor who is determined to pilot his or her boat against a strong current of water. To accomplish this, the sailor must work to “suppress” or counteract the natural flow of water by forcing the rudder to take the boat in the direction he or she wishes to go instead of the direction of the current.
That brings us to this reference to “godlessness,” a term that means “without reverence for God.” A godless person is someone who lives as if God did not exist, or exhibits irreverence for Him in thought, word, or deed. Much like a warning lamp that signals the presence of a fault condition, godlessness signals a defect in one’s vertical relationship with his or her Creator.
Scholars and commentators have wrestled with the precise meaning of the term “faith to faith” here in Romans 1:17. For instance, this portion of Scripture may relate to God’s faithfulness in respect to our faith, or it may refer to ever-increasing degrees of faith.
While many accept the premise that everyone possesses a moral compass, there are just as many who would undoubtedly view “right” and “wrong” as a matter of personal preference. However, a compass that aligns with our preferences may not provide an accurate reading. Therefore, the question of where that compass points is far more significant.
The fact that Paul had often planned to visit Rome without success is one that should bring comfort when our own plans fail to come to fruition. For example, Paul’s experience tells us that it is not wrong to plan for the future. As we’re reminded in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, “Wise people think before they act; fools don’t–and even brag about their foolishness” (Proverbs 13:16 NLT).
This reference to a spiritual gift likely refers to an insight or blessing that Paul sought to share with the Roman fellowship. While “some” spiritual gift suggests that Paul may have been unaware of the gift he sought to impart, his desire to share it for the benefit of the church at Rome was certainly there. Since Paul 
This passage also marks the first appearance of the most significant word in this epistle: faith. One Biblical scholar highlights the various applications of this word as it appears here in the Book of Romans. For example, the word “faith” is used in three distinct ways…
So, Paul was called to be an apostle, but to what purpose? Well, that purpose is made clear in the verse quoted above where Paul tells us he was “set apart for the gospel of God.” This tells us that Paul was called to the apostolic mission of preaching the gospel (or “good news”) that…
As the capital of the Roman Empire, the city of Rome held a position of preeminence in the first-century world. From its central location in western Italy, Rome governed large portions of Europe, the near east, and north Africa during the New Testament era.
